The 2021 MCL35M will stretch its legs once again, this time at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, with 22-year-old American Colton Herta behind the wheel.

Sporting regulations allow teams to test one-year-old cars under the TPC provision, which gives Colton his first opportunity in a Formula 1 car. The McLaren F1 TPC programme provides an opportunity for the team to evaluate young talent, which has also handed an opportunity to Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward.

Colton became the youngest race winner in IndyCar history when he won at the Circuit of the Americas in 2019, then 18-years- old. He’s since went on to win six times and secure seven pole positions in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“Colton is a proven talent in IndyCar and we will be interested to see how he adapts to a Formula 1 car” said Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1. “We believe this testing programme will provide him with valuable experience while demonstrating the benefit of expanding previous car testing to showcase promising drivers for the future.”

The TPC programme in Portimão runs from 11-13 July. Colton will share testing duties with McLaren F1 Test & Development driver Will Stevens.

Follow updates from Colton’s TPC test programme on the McLaren App and on Instagram.

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